"Bergerac" (1981) TV series 1981-1991

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Creator:

Robert Banks Stewart
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

Release Date:

18 October 1981 (UK)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot Keywords:

Police | Alcohol | Murder | Jersey | Detective

Awards:

1 win

Cast

John Nettles	...	Det. Sgt. Jim Bergerac / ... (87 episodes, 1981-1991)
Terence Alexander	...	Charlie Hungerford (85 episodes, 1981-1991)
Sean Arnold	...	Chief Insp. Barney Crozier / ... (73 episodes, 1981-1990)
John Telfer	...	DC Willy Pettit (36 episodes, 1988-1991)
David Kershaw	...	DC Ben Lomas (36 episodes, 1988-1991)
Mela White	...	Diamante Lil (35 episodes, 1981-1987)

(more)

Series Directed by
Robert Tronson		(7 episodes, 1983-1988)
Michael Rolfe		(4 episodes, 1983-1991)
Robert Young		(4 episodes, 1983-1987)
Tristan DeVere Cole		(4 episodes, 1988-1991)
Geoffrey Sax		(4 episodes, 1988-1990)
Laurence Moody		(3 episodes, 1981-1984)
Ian Toynton		(3 episodes, 1981-1983)
Ben Bolt		(3 episodes, 1983-1985)
David Reynolds		(3 episodes, 1984-1985)
Richard Standeven		(3 episodes, 1989)
Henry Herbert		(2 episodes, 1981-1983)
Martin Campbell		(2 episodes, 1981)
Martyn Friend		(2 episodes, 1981)
Graeme Harper		(2 episodes, 1985-1987)
Brian Farnham		(2 episodes, 1985)
Richard Bramall		(2 episodes, 1987-1990)
Peter Ellis		(2 episodes, 1989)
Ken Grieve		(2 episodes, 1990)
Tony Dow		(2 episodes, 1991)
Terry Green		(2 episodes, 1991)
Colm Villa		(2 episodes, 1991)
Terry Marcel		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Robert Banks Stewart		(27 episodes, 1981-1989)
Rod Beacham		(8 episodes, 1983-1990)
Brian Finch		(6 episodes, 1984-1990)
John Fletcher		(6 episodes, 1985-1991)
John Milne		(6 episodes, 1989-1991)
Nick McCarty		(4 episodes, 1983-1987)
John Collee		(4 episodes, 1988-1990)
Alistair Bell		(3 episodes, 1981-1983)
Dennis Spooner		(3 episodes, 1981-1983)
Robert Holmes		(3 episodes, 1983-1987)
Paul Wheeler		(3 episodes, 1983-1984)
Edwin Pearce		(3 episodes, 1985-1989)
Edmund Ward		(3 episodes, 1988-1990)
Bob Baker		(2 episodes, 1981-1983)
Leslie Darbon		(2 episodes, 1981-1983)
Peter Miller		(2 episodes, 1981-1983)
Bill Craig		(2 episodes, 1983-1984)
Chris Boucher		(2 episodes, 1986-1987)
David Crane		(2 episodes, 1990-1991)
Cyril Williams		(2 episodes, 1990-1991)
Jeffrey Caine		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Robert Banks Stewart	....	producer (19 episodes, 1981-1983)
Jonathan Alwyn	....	producer (11 episodes, 1983-1985)
Juliet Grimm	....	associate producer (10 episodes, 1981)
George Gallaccio	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
George Fenton		(2 episodes, 1981-1985)

Series Cinematography by
John Baker		(4 episodes, 1983-1985)
Alec Curtis		(4 episodes, 1985-1989)
Ian Hilton		(3 episodes, 1981-1983)
Peter Hall		(2 episodes, 1983-1984)
Mike Southon		(2 episodes, 1983-1984)
John Walker		(2 episodes, 1983)
Ken Westbury		(2 episodes, 1983)
Remi Adefarasin		(unknown episodes)
Nigel Walters		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Paul Garrick		(12 episodes, 1985-1990)
Bernard Ashby		(8 episodes, 1981-1985)
Graham Walker		(6 episodes, 1981-1983)
John Stothart		(4 episodes, 1981-1983)
Tariq Anwar		(3 episodes, 1981-1983)
Chris Wimble		(2 episodes, 1981-1983)
Martin Sharpe		(2 episodes, 1984-1985)
Jerry Leon		(2 episodes, 1984)
Ray Wingrove		(2 episodes, 1984)
Masahiro Hirakubo		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Design by
John Hurst		(7 episodes, 1981-1985)
Phil Roberson		(7 episodes, 1981-1983)
Antony Thorpe		(4 episodes, 1981)
Phil Robertson		(3 episodes, 1981)
Paul Allen		(2 episodes, 1983)
Marjorie Pratt		(2 episodes, 1983)
Eric Walmsley		(2 episodes, 1983)
Gary Pritchard		(2 episodes, 1984)

Series Costume Design by
Jacky Levy		(11 episodes, 1991)
George W. Ward		(7 episodes, 1983-1984)
Pip Bryce		(5 episodes, 1983-1984)
Nicholas Rocker		(5 episodes, 1983)
Pat Fisher		(3 episodes, 1981)
Dorinda Rea		(3 episodes, 1981)
Lisa Benjamin		(2 episodes, 1981)
Romayne Hortop		(2 episodes, 1981)

Series Makeup Department
Judy Cain	....	makeup artist (5 episodes, 1981)
Cheryl Wright	....	makeup artist (5 episodes, 1981)
Martha Livesley	....	makeup designer (5 episodes, 1983-1984)
Elizabeth Rowell	....	makeup designer (5 episodes, 1983-1984)
Pauline Cox	....	makeup artist (5 episodes, 1983)
Christine Walmesley-Cotham	....	makeup artist (4 episodes, 1983)

Series Production Management
Susan Box	....	production manager (4 episodes, 1983-1985)
Norman Stewart	....	production manager (3 episodes, 1983-1984)
Michael Brayshaw	....	production manager (3 episodes, 1983)
Steve Goldie	....	production manager (2 episodes, 1981)
Ron Jones	....	production manager (2 episodes, 1981)
Hugh Boyle	....	production manager (2 episodes, 1983)
Margot Eavis	....	production manager (2 episodes, 1983)
Paul Munn	....	production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kevan Van Thompson	....	assistant director (15 episodes, 1981-1985)
Jim Capper	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Dez McCarthy	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Graham McCallum	....	title sequence / graphics designer / ... (30 episodes, 1981-1985)
Sid Sutton	....	title sequence (20 episodes, 1983-1985)
Paul Woods	....	properties buyer (6 episodes, 1983-1985)
Tony Watts	....	properties buyer (5 episodes, 1983-1984)
Pamela Hoffman	....	property buyer (3 episodes, 1983)

Series Sound Department
John Hale	....	dubbing mixer (57 episodes, 1981-1989)
Martin Sharpe	....	dubbing editor / sound editor (10 episodes, 1981)
Masahiro Hirakubo	....	dubbing editor (9 episodes, 1981)
Ken Hains	....	dubbing mixer (8 episodes, 1983-1985)
David Sleight	....	sound editor / supervising sound editor (8 episodes, 1991)
Paul Garrick	....	dubbing editor (7 episodes, 1983)
Bill Chesneau	....	film sound recordist (6 episodes, 1981-1984)
Mark Day	....	dubbing editor (4 episodes, 1981-1984)
Martyn Clift	....	film sound recordist (3 episodes, 1981-1983)
Malcolm Webberley	....	film sound recordist (3 episodes, 1983-1985)
Mark Day	....	dubbing editor (3 episodes, 1983-1984)
Simon Holland	....	dubbing editor (3 episodes, 1983-1984)
John Strickland	....	dubbing editor (3 episodes, 1983)
Alan Cooper	....	film sound recordist (2 episodes, 1981)
Jerry Leon	....	dubbing editor (2 episodes, 1981)
Colin March	....	film sound recordist (2 episodes, 1981)
Richard Manton	....	film sound recordist / sound recordist (2 episodes, 1983-1987)
David Jewitt	....	film sound recordist (2 episodes, 1983-1984)
Stuart Moser	....	film sound recordist (2 episodes, 1983-1984)
Graham Hare	....	film sound recordist (2 episodes, 1983)
Barrie Tharby	....	film sound recordist / sound recordist (2 episodes, 1983)
Arthur Chesterman	....	sound recordist (unknown episodes)
Gordon Lester	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)
John Taylor	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
John Brace	....	visual effects (5 episodes, 1981)
Mickey Edwards	....	visual effects assistant (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Peter Brayham	....	stunt arranger / fight arranger (8 episodes, 1983-1984)
Paul Weston	....	stunt arranger / fight arranger (7 episodes, 1981-1984)
Gareth Milne	....	fight arranger / stuntman (2 episodes, 1981-1988)
Tracey Eddon	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Richard Hammatt	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Paul Heasman	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Frank Henson	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Eddie Powell	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Greg Powell	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Colin Skeaping	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Stuart St. Paul	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)
Bill Weston	....	stunt arranger / stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Graham Banks	....	focus puller (4 episodes, 1985-1989)
Butch Calderwood	....	photographer (2 episodes, 1981)
Elmer Cossey	....	film camera (2 episodes, 1981)
Terry Doe	....	film camera (2 episodes, 1981)
Anthony Jacobs	....	photographer (2 episodes, 1981)
Barry McCann	....	camera operator / film camera (2 episodes, 1981)
Nigel Slatter	....	film camera (2 episodes, 1981)
John Walker	....	film camera (2 episodes, 1981)
Ken Westbury	....	film camera (2 episodes, 1981)
Adrian McCarthy	....	key grip (2 episodes, 1984-1985)
David Hall	....	clapper loader (unknown episodes)
Micky Reeves	....	electrician (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Bernard Ashby	....	chief film editor (22 episodes, 1981-1984)

Series Music Department
George Fenton	....	composer: theme music (29 episodes, 1981-1985)
Ray Russell	....	musical associate / music associate (29 episodes, 1981-1984)

Series Other crew
Michael Bartley	....	production associate (19 episodes, 1983-1984)
Scott Jarvis	....	assistant floor manager (15 episodes, 1983-1984)
Stewart Richards	....	assistant floor manager / location manager (12 episodes, 1981-1984)
Chris Boucher	....	script editor (12 episodes, 1983-1985)
John Kershaw	....	script editor (10 episodes, 1981)
Brian Roberts	....	production associate (10 episodes, 1981)
Dennis Spooner	....	script editor (8 episodes, 1983)
John Watson	....	assistant floor manager / location manager (6 episodes, 1981)
Kevan Van Thompson	....	assistant floor manager (5 episodes, 1981-1984)
Charles Salmon	....	location manager (5 episodes, 1981)
Josephine Ward	....	location manager (5 episodes, 1983-1984)
Roselyn Parker	....	location manager (5 episodes, 1983)
Patricia Greenland	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 1981-1984)
Douglas Mcdonald	....	assistant floor manager (4 episodes, 1981-1983)
John Dodds	....	assistant floor manager (4 episodes, 1981)
Stephen Jeffery-Poulter	....	assistant floor manager (4 episodes, 1983)
Janet Wray	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 1983-1984)
Mary Hare	....	assistant floor manager (3 episodes, 1988-1989)
Charlotte Blair	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1981)
Dennis Firminger	....	location manager (2 episodes, 1981)
Gill Partridge	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1981)
Bryan Showell	....	film recordist (2 episodes, 1981)
Michael A. Treen	....	assistant floor manager (2 episodes, 1981)
Terence Banks	....	location manager (2 episodes, 1983)
Alison Barnett	....	assistant floor manager (2 episodes, 1983)
Glenys Davies	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1983)
Brian Denton	....	location manager (2 episodes, 1983)
Diana East	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1983)
Kevin Mann	....	assistant floor manager (2 episodes, 1983)
Christopher Moss	....	assistant floor manager (2 episodes, 1984)
Peter Woodward	....	fight arranger (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• 7 Network
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Distributors

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
• Pan Vision Oy (2007) (Finland) (DVD)

Runtime:

50 min (87 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Finland:K-11 (DVD) (2007)

Filming Locations:

Beach, St Brelade's Bay, Jersey, Channel Islands

Company:

7 Network

Trivia:

Annette Badland is said to have disliked her stint on the show.

Quotes:

Detective Sergeant Jim Bergerac: Jersey is an island. It's nine miles by five. And if you drive *very* slowly, you can take a whole hour to go right round it. But when you get back, there's still the same old restaurants and bars, discos and boutiques. Same sad faces waiting to be faced. Jersey is some kind of prison.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Just a Minute: (#3.9)" (1995)

The series that brought the BBC into the modern era.

Before (and in some cases after) Bergerac BBC dramas were pathetically low budget and often set in over-lit and wobbly studio-sets that were a throwback to a theatre tradition that television needed to take a step, a cinematic step indeed, away from.

Bergerac was instrumental in changing that. What makes it take this leap is that every scene is outside broadcast. If the scene is in an office in a police station, then it is filmed in an office. It may seem a small thing, but compare it to other BBC dramas of the time, like Juliet Bravo, and you will see how Bergerac stands the test of time and they fail.

John Nettles is superb in the lead role, but as ever, for a series like this to work, it is the supporting actors that make the difference and these are in two categories. Firstly, the regulars who are good and fun, especially Charlie Hungerford, a more subtle and plausible Arthur Daley character, and Barney Crozier, one of the world's most grumpy men, but one who you still are able to have a little time for. Secondly, the guest actors, and these read like a checklist of British dramatic talent, either classic stars making guest appearances (Beryl Reid, Sir Norman Wisdom, Richard Griffiths) or a host of younger actors who were on the cusp of being household names (Ray Winston, Resse Dinsdale, Louise Jameson, Lisa Goddard).

A decade is a long time, but the quality of Bergerac never failed throughout its ten years (which almost mirrored Mrs Thatcher's term as PM; it makes the series interesting social history for that golden decade as well as drama). Outstanding.